Modal Hedges in Para-pharmaceutical Product Instructions: Some Examples from English and Serbian

The paper investigates how modal hedges (Coates 1983) understood as expressions of procedural meaning, i.e. expressions which instruct the addressee/reader how to process the propositional content of an utterance/statement (Watts 2004) are used in product descriptions, advertisements and consumer instructions leaflets for a number of products belonging to the Consumer Health Care category for the purposes of complying with consumer protection laws on the one hand and serving as an implicit disclaimer of manufacturer’s responsibility on the other. The analysis is carried out contrastively for two languages, English and Serbian. The results obtained are discussed and viewed as a matter of cultural variety and difference, especially taking into consideration the fact that consumer protection laws seem to be equally strict in US, UK and Commonwealth, Europe and Serbia.

Immunohistochemical expression of BORIS and STAM-2 in testicular germ cell tumours

Tumori zametnih stanica testisa su najčešći tumori mladih muškaraca u periodu od puberteta do 40 godina. U Republici Hrvatskoj i Republici Sloveniji se bilježi najveći porast incidencije TGCT-a od svih zemalja Europe. Naglasak ove studije je na skupini seminoma i neseminoma adolescenata i mlađe odrasle dobi. U ovom istraživanju po prvi put je analizirana imunohistokemijska izraženost BORIS-a i STAM-2 u TGCT-ima, na uzorku od 61 pacijenta. Ova dva proteina sudjeluju u unutarstaničnoj signalizaciji te se smatra da su povezani s aktivacijom protoonkogena. Utvrđena je pozitivna reakcija na BORIS u 100% analiziranih uzoraka, neovisno o histološkoj građi, dok je reakcija na STAM-2 bila slaba ili je nije bilo. Uočena je razlika u izraženosti STAM-2 u čistim seminomima i seminomskoj komponenti MGCT-a u odnosu na ostale komponente MGCT-a. Iako rezultati ovog istraživanja zahtijevaju daljnje potvrde, ukazuju na potencijalno značenje određivanja ekspresije BORIS-a i STAM-2 u TGCT-ima te njihovom eventualnom doprinosu poboljšanju dijagnostike ovih tumora.Testicular germ cell tumours are the most common tumours in young males between puberty and the age of 40. Of all European countries the highest increase of incidence is registered in Republic of Croatia and Republic of Slovenia. The aim of this study was to analyse seminomatous and nonseminomatous tumours of adolescents and younger males. This study was the first to analyse the immunohistochemical expression of BORIS and STAM-2 in TGCTs, in 61 samples. These two proteins play a role in intracellular signalisation and are considered to be involved in activation of protooncogenes. All analysed samples were BORIS-positive, regardless of histological type, whereas the reaction to STAM-2 was weak or absent. There was a difference in the expression of STAM-2 in pure seminomatous tumours and seminomatous component of MGCTs in comparison with other components of MGCTs. Although this study requires further confirmation, it shows the potential significance of determining BORIS and STAM-2 expression and their possible contribution in the improvement of diagnosing TGCTs

The influence of hepatitis B virus genotype on clinical course and outcome of chronic infection

Cilj: Genetička varijabilnost heptitis B virusa (HBV) posledica je visokog stepena repikacije ovog virusa i nemogućnosti ispravljanja slučajno nastalih grešaka tokom ovog procesa. Pored toga, terapija nukleozidnim/nukleotidnim analozima (NA) neminovno vodi u selekciju rezistentnih sojeva. HBsAg serotipovi HBV otkriveni su na osnovu reaktivnosti HBsAg sa poznatim panelima antitela. Na osnovu razlike u nukelotidnim sekvencama duž genoma definisani su genotipovi odn. subgenotipovi. Glavni cilj istraživanja bio je da se analizira uticaj genotipova, subgenotipova i HBsAg subtipova na težinu kliničke slike, patohistološki nalaz u tkivu jetre i progresiju u cirozu jetre i hepatocelularni karcinom. Metodologija: U studiju je uključeno 162 terapijski nevina bolesnika (126 muškara i 36 žena), sa potvrđenom dijagnozom hroničnog hepatitisa B (HHB). HHB je povrđen na osnovu biohemijskih, seroloških i virusoloških parametara infekcije, kao i patohistološkog pregleda tkiva jetre. U cilju praćenja prirodnog toka HHB, kod bolesnika su određivani aktivnost alaninaminotrasferaze (ALT), protrombinsko vreme (PV) i koncentracija serumskih albumina, svakih šest meseci, pre uvođenja antivirusne terapije i tokom terapije lamivudinom. Pored toga ispitanicima su određivani i HBeAg, antiHBe, antiHBc, HBV DNK PCR, genotip, subgenotip i HBsAg subtip. Terapija lamivudinom je sprovedena kod bolesnika koji su ispunili kriterijume Evropskog udruženja za izučavanje jetre. Povoljan ishod terapije podrazumevao je supresiju virusne DNK i normalizaciju aktivnosti ALT. Pojava rezistencije HBV na lamivudin definisana je kroz virusološki i biohemijski proboj, odnosno kao izostanak supresije virusne replikacije. . Rezultati: Kod 14,2% ispitanika bio je prisutan genotip A, a kod ostalih genotip D. Svi bolesnici sa genotipom A, imali su subgenotip A2 i HBsAg subtip adw2. Kod bolesnika sa genotipom D, potvrđena su tri subgenotipa: D1 kod 14 (8,6%) bolesnika, D2 kod 47 (29%) bolesnika i najzastupljeniji D3 kod 78 (48,1%) bolesnika. Kod 158 (97,5%) ispitanika određeni su HBsAg subtipovi: adw2 (14,5%), ayw2 (50%), ayw3 (34,2%), ayw4 (1,3%). Prisustvo HBeAg+ serologije bilo je značajno više kod infekcije genotipom A nego D (60,8% vs. 30,9%; p=0,02). Stepen viremije (HBV DNK IU/l) nije se razlikovao u zavisnosti od genotipoa, subgenotipa i HBsAg subtipa. Stepen viremije bio je različit u zavisnosti od HBeAg/antiHBe statusa: kod bolesnika sa HBeAg+/antiHBe−, HBeAg−/antiHB+ i HBeAg−/antiHBe− serološkim nalazima, vrednosti HBV DNK bila je 4,24, 2,67 i 2,69 log10IU/l (p=0,01). Srednje vreme do progresije u cirozu iznosilo je 23,2±3,4 godina za genotip A i 15,1±8,4 godina genotip D (P = 0.02). Uspeh terapije lamivudinom nije zavio od genotipa, subgenotipa, HBsAg subtipa i stepena preterapije viremije. Kod bolesnika sa manje uznapredovalom bolešću (bez fibroze odn. sa lakom fibrozom), verovatnoća da se razvije rezistencija na lamivudin bila je značajno manja nego kod bolesnika sa teškom fibrozom fibrozom (48,9% vs. 76,1%; p=0,03). Zaključak: Aktivnost ALT i koncentarcija serumskih albumina nisu se razlikovali u zavisnosti od genotipa, subgenotipa i HBsAg subtipa. Bolesnici sa genotipom D imali su bržu progresiju u cirozu jetre od bolesnika sa genotipom A. HBeAg pozitivnost je bila češća kod bolesnika inficiranih genotipom A, subgenotipom A2 i adw2 subtipom. Teška fibroza i ciroza jetre bili su negativni prediktivni faktori za uspešnost lečenja lamivudinom.Purpose: Genetic variability of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a consequence of the high degree of viral replication and its inability to correct accidental errors arising during this process. In addition, therapy with nucleoside/nucleotide analogues (NA) leads to the selection of resistant strains. HBsAg serotypes are detected on the basis of HBsAg reactivity with known antibody panels. HBV genotypes and subgenotypes are defined based on differences in nucleotide sequences along the genome. The main objective of this study was to analyze the effect of genotype, subgenotypes and HBsAg subtypes on the clinical course, histopathologic changes in liver and the progression to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Methodology: This study included 162 treatment naive patients (126 men and 36 women) with a confirmed diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The diagnosis of CHB was established according to clinical presentation, biochemical and virological markers of infection, along with pathohistology findings at aspiration liver biopsy. In order to assess the natural history of chronic HBV infection, along with treatment response, serum bilirubin, ALT, prothrombin time and albumin levels were measured at the time of diagnosis, and every six months, before the introduction of antiviral therapy with lamivudine, and at same intervals thereafter in both subgroups of treated and untreated patients. Different serological markers, such as HBsAg/Ab, HBeAg/Ab and HBcAb, as well as HBV DNA level, genotypes, subgenotypes and HBsAg subtypes also were evaluated. Lamivudine therapy was introduced in patients who met the criteria of the European Association for the Study of Liver. Suppression of viral DNA along with ALT normalization was considered a favorable response to antiviral therapy. Emergence of HBV resistance to lamivudine was considered most probable in those patients who experienced virological and biochemical breakthrough, and/or in those who never reached viral suppression. Results: 14.2% of patients had genotype A, while other had genotype D. Patients with genotype A, had subgenotype A2 and HBsAg subtype adw2. Patients with genotype D, had three subgenotypes: D1 (8,6% of patients), D2 (29%) and the most common D3 (48,1%). Different HBsAg subtypes were found: adw2 (14,5%), ayw2 (50%), ayw3 (34,2 %) and ayw4 (1,3%). The prevalence of HBeAg+ serology of 60.8% among patients infected with genotype A was significantly higher then 30.9% recorded among those with genotype D (P = 0.02). The viral loads (HBV DNA IU/l) did not differ depending on genotypes, subgenotypes and HBsAg subtypes. The patients with HBeAg +/HBeAb-, HBeAg-/HBeAb+ and both HBeAg and HBeAb negative serologic patterns had differnet viral loads: 4.24, 2.67 and 2.69 log10IU/L (p = 0.01). Mean time to liver cirrhosis was 23.2±3.4 years and 15.1±8.4 years, for genotypes A and D, respectively (P= 0.02). Genotypes, subgenotypes and HBsAg subtypes, as well as pretreatment viral loads did not influence the lamivudine treatment outcome. The probability of lamivudine resistance was significantly lower in patient with less advanced disease (with no/mild fibrosis) than in patients with severe fibrosis ( 48,9 % vs. 76,1%, p=0,03). Conclusion: Genotypes, subgenotypes and HBsAg subtypes did not influence the serum ALT activity and albumin concentration. Patients with genotype D had faster progression to liver cirrhosis than in patients with genotype A. HBeAg positivity was more common in patients infected with genotype A, subgenotype A2 and adw2 subtype. Severe fibrosis and cirrhosis were negative predictive factors for lamivudine treatment outcome

Immunohistochemical expression of BORIS and STAM-2 in testicular germ cell tumours

Tumori zametnih stanica testisa su najčešći tumori mladih muškaraca u periodu od puberteta do 40 godina. U Republici Hrvatskoj i Republici Sloveniji se bilježi najveći porast incidencije TGCT-a od svih zemalja Europe. Naglasak ove studije je na skupini seminoma i neseminoma adolescenata i mlađe odrasle dobi. U ovom istraživanju po prvi put je analizirana imunohistokemijska izraženost BORIS-a i STAM-2 u TGCT-ima, na uzorku od 61 pacijenta. Ova dva proteina sudjeluju u unutarstaničnoj signalizaciji te se smatra da su povezani s aktivacijom protoonkogena. Utvrđena je pozitivna reakcija na BORIS u 100% analiziranih uzoraka, neovisno o histološkoj građi, dok je reakcija na STAM-2 bila slaba ili je nije bilo. Uočena je razlika u izraženosti STAM-2 u čistim seminomima i seminomskoj komponenti MGCT-a u odnosu na ostale komponente MGCT-a. Iako rezultati ovog istraživanja zahtijevaju daljnje potvrde, ukazuju na potencijalno značenje određivanja ekspresije BORIS-a i STAM-2 u TGCT-ima te njihovom eventualnom doprinosu poboljšanju dijagnostike ovih tumora.Testicular germ cell tumours are the most common tumours in young males between puberty and the age of 40. Of all European countries the highest increase of incidence is registered in Republic of Croatia and Republic of Slovenia. The aim of this study was to analyse seminomatous and nonseminomatous tumours of adolescents and younger males. This study was the first to analyse the immunohistochemical expression of BORIS and STAM-2 in TGCTs, in 61 samples. These two proteins play a role in intracellular signalisation and are considered to be involved in activation of protooncogenes. All analysed samples were BORIS-positive, regardless of histological type, whereas the reaction to STAM-2 was weak or absent. There was a difference in the expression of STAM-2 in pure seminomatous tumours and seminomatous component of MGCTs in comparison with other components of MGCTs. Although this study requires further confirmation, it shows the potential significance of determining BORIS and STAM-2 expression and their possible contribution in the improvement of diagnosing TGCTs

IMUNOHISTOKEMIJSKA IZRAŽENOST PROTEINA BORIS U TUMORIMA ZAMETNIH STANICA TESTISA

Brother of the Regulator of Imprinted Sites (BORIS) has a role in intracellular signalization and is important in epigenetic mechanism control, such as methylation/demethylation of DNA and histones. BORIS may deregulate some tumor suppressor genes. Immunohistochemical expression of BORIS was found in different tumors, some of them showing correlation with poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to determine immunohistochemical expression of BORIS in pure seminomas and different components of testicular mixed germ cell tumors (MGCT). In this study, immunohistochemical expression of BORIS in testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) was analyzed. Staining intensity and percentage of positive staining cells were used to evaluate the level of expression. Tumor samples from 44 patients were analyzed; 26 pure seminomas and 18 MGCT. In MGCTs, seminoma component was found in 4, yolk sac in 7, teratoma in 11 and embryonal carcinoma in 13 samples. Expression of BORIS was strong in 80.8% of seminoma cases and in 76.9% of embryonal carcinoma component, 71.4% of yolk sac, 63.6% of teratoma component and 25% of seminomatous component of MGCT. In MGCT, positive correlation was found between BORIS expression in teratomatous component and presence of yolk sac component (BORIS (engl. Brother of the Regulator of Imprinted Sites) sudjeluje u unutarstaničnoj signalizaciji i kontrolira epigenetske mehanizme kao što su metilacija/demetilacija DNK i histona. Aktivacija BORIS-a dovodi do poremećaja određenih tumorskih supresora. Imunohistokemijska izraženost BORIS-a utvrđena je u različitim tumorima. U nekim tumorima nađena je korelacija s lošijom prognozom. Cilj ovoga istraživanja bio je utvrditi imunohistokemijsku izraženost BORIS-a u čistim seminomima i različitim komponentama miješanih tumora zametnih stanica testisa (engl. mixed germ cell tumors, MGCT). Materijal i metode: Analizirana je imunohistokemijska izraženost BORIS-a u tumorima zametnih stanica testisa (engl. testicular germ cell tumors, TGCT), a intenzitet bojenja i postotak reaktivnih stanica korišten je za evaluaciju razine ekspresije. Analizirani su uzorci tumora 44 bolesnika; 26 čistih seminoma i 18 MGCT. Kod MGCT-a komponenta seminoma nađena je u 4, yolk sac-a u 7, teratoma u 11 te embrionalnog karcinoma u 13 uzoraka tumora. Rezultati: Imunohistokemijska izraženost bila je jaka kod 80,8% čistih seminoma te kod 76,9% komponente embrionalnog karcinoma, 71,4% yolk sac-a, 63,6% teratoma i 25% seminomske komponente MGCT-a. Dobivena je pozitivna korelacija izraženosti BORIS-a teratomske komponente i prisutnosti komponente yolc sac

IMUNOHISTOKEMIJSKA IZRAŽENOST PROTEINA BORIS U TUMORIMA ZAMETNIH STANICA TESTISA

Brother of the Regulator of Imprinted Sites (BORIS) has a role in intracellular signalization and is important in epigenetic mechanism control, such as methylation/demethylation of DNA and histones. BORIS may deregulate some tumor suppressor genes. Immunohistochemical expression of BORIS was found in different tumors, some of them showing correlation with poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to determine immunohistochemical expression of BORIS in pure seminomas and different components of testicular mixed germ cell tumors (MGCT). In this study, immunohistochemical expression of BORIS in testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) was analyzed. Staining intensity and percentage of positive staining cells were used to evaluate the level of expression. Tumor samples from 44 patients were analyzed; 26 pure seminomas and 18 MGCT. In MGCTs, seminoma component was found in 4, yolk sac in 7, teratoma in 11 and embryonal carcinoma in 13 samples. Expression of BORIS was strong in 80.8% of seminoma cases and in 76.9% of embryonal carcinoma component, 71.4% of yolk sac, 63.6% of teratoma component and 25% of seminomatous component of MGCT. In MGCT, positive correlation was found between BORIS expression in teratomatous component and presence of yolk sac component (BORIS (engl. Brother of the Regulator of Imprinted Sites) sudjeluje u unutarstaničnoj signalizaciji i kontrolira epigenetske mehanizme kao što su metilacija/demetilacija DNK i histona. Aktivacija BORIS-a dovodi do poremećaja određenih tumorskih supresora. Imunohistokemijska izraženost BORIS-a utvrđena je u različitim tumorima. U nekim tumorima nađena je korelacija s lošijom prognozom. Cilj ovoga istraživanja bio je utvrditi imunohistokemijsku izraženost BORIS-a u čistim seminomima i različitim komponentama miješanih tumora zametnih stanica testisa (engl. mixed germ cell tumors, MGCT). Materijal i metode: Analizirana je imunohistokemijska izraženost BORIS-a u tumorima zametnih stanica testisa (engl. testicular germ cell tumors, TGCT), a intenzitet bojenja i postotak reaktivnih stanica korišten je za evaluaciju razine ekspresije. Analizirani su uzorci tumora 44 bolesnika; 26 čistih seminoma i 18 MGCT. Kod MGCT-a komponenta seminoma nađena je u 4, yolk sac-a u 7, teratoma u 11 te embrionalnog karcinoma u 13 uzoraka tumora. Rezultati: Imunohistokemijska izraženost bila je jaka kod 80,8% čistih seminoma te kod 76,9% komponente embrionalnog karcinoma, 71,4% yolk sac-a, 63,6% teratoma i 25% seminomske komponente MGCT-a. Dobivena je pozitivna korelacija izraženosti BORIS-a teratomske komponente i prisutnosti komponente yolc sac

PECULIARITIES OF CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH TRANSPLANTED SOLID ORGAN IN FAMILY MEDICINE

Transplantacija je ponekad jedina terapijska opcija liječenja akutnog ili kroničnog zatajenja organa. U skrbi za pacijente s transplantiranim organom prisutne su brojne komplikacije koje uzrokuju moćni imunosupresivni lijekovi, kardiovaskularne, neoplastične i metaboličke bolesti. One su povezane sa značajnijim pobolom i smrtnosti u skupini bolesnika nakon transplantacije i kao takve postaju važan dio prateće skrbi. U prvoj godini nakon transplantacije pacijenti održavaju redovite kontakte s transplantacijskim centrima, a liječnik obiteljske medicine ima ulogu povezivanja sa specijalističkim centrom te detekcije i rješavanja zdravstvenih problema i pitanja koje se ne odnose samo na transplantaciju. Nakon toga uloga liječnika obiteljske medicine postaje sve važnija i aktivnija u prevenciji pobola i smrtnosti, odgovarajućom i pravodobnom intervencijom u detekciji nuspojava imunosupresivne terapije i prijetećih metaboličkih poremećaja. Cilj ovog rada je prikazati ulogu obiteljskog liječnika u praćenju pacijenta nakon transplantacije solidnog organa.Transplantation is sometimes the only therapeutic option to treat acute or chronic organ failure. In the care of transplant patients, there are numerous complications that are caused by powerful immunosuppressive drugs, cardiovascular, metabolic, and neoplastic diseases. These diseases are associated with signifi cant morbidity and mortality in patients after transplantation, which will become an important part for supporting the transplant patient care. In the fi rst year after transplantation, patients have regular contact with transplant center, and family doctor acts as a contact connecting patients with specialized centers, while also detecting and managing health problems and issues that are not related only to transplantation. After that, the role of family physicians is becoming ever more important and active in the prevention of morbidity and mortality in transplant patients by appropriate and timely intervention in detection of side effects of immunosuppressive therapy and threatening metabolic disorders. The aim of this article is to show the role of family physician in tracking the welfare of organ transplant patient

Relationship between body condition and blood parameters in the peripartum period, production and reproductive results of Alpine goats

Radi ispitivanja odnosa telesne kondicije (OTK) i metaboličkih parametara krvi i proizvodnih i reproduktivnih rezultata u različitim fiziološkim fazama, izvedeno je istraživanje na dve grupe od ukupno 50 sjarenih primiparih i multiparih koza alpske rase. OTK je izvedena metodom Villaquiran-a i sar. (2004) četiri puta za svaku od grupa 10 do 15 dana pre, 10 do 15 dana i 30 dana po partusu i 10 do 15 dana pre zasušenja, a u prva tri termina je uzeta i krv iz v. jugularis za utvrđivanje koncentracija glukoze, ukupnih proteina (UP), albumina, uree, β-hidroksibuterne kiseline (BHBA), neesterifikovanih masnih kiselina (NEFA), kalcijuma i fosfora. Zabeleženi su ukupna količina (KM) i sastav mleka: udeo proteina (MP), masti (MM), laktoze (L) i suve materije (SM) u laktaciji, broj jaradi po kozi (BJ), telesna masa (TM) na rođenju i 30. dana, dužina servis perioda (SP) i težina porođaja. Značajnost postoji između UP 15 dana pre i 15 i 30 dana po jarenju (F=2,675, p<0,05; F=4,710 i F=3,834, p<0,01, redom), Ca 30 dana posle (F=2,925, p<0,05) i BHBA 15 dana posle (F=2,508, p<0,05). Ustanovljena je korelacija između OTK 30 dana posle i KM (r=0,302, p<0,05), 15 dana posle i SM (r=0,315, p<0,05) i 15 dana pred partus i BJ (r=0,282, p<0,05), kao i SP (r=0,460, p<0,01) i TM na rođenju (r=0,307, p<0,05). Paritet je u korelaciji s KM, BJ, TM i SP (r=0,774; r=0,610; r=0,588; r=0,833, p<0,01, redom), a u negativnoj s L (r=-0,297, p<0,05). BJ je u korelaciji s SP (r=0,630, p<0,01), KM (r=0,547, p<0,01) i MM (r=-0,294, p<0,05). SP je u korelaciji s TM (r=0,616, p<0,01) i KM (r=0,704, p<0,01), MM s L (r=0,316, p<0,05) i SM (r=0,592, p<0,01), a L s SM (r=0,386, p<0,01). Koncentracije parametara krvi variraju u peripartalnom periodu, uz značajne razlike između prvojarki i višejarki i imaju uticaj na proizvodnju i reprodukciju, i mogu biti korisni u prevenciji zdravstvenih, reproduktivnih i proizvodnih problema, iako je nađeno da OTK kod koza nije od značaja kao prediktor proizvodnje i kvaliteta mleka.In order to examine the relationship between body condition score (BCS) and metabolic parameters of blood and production and reproductive results in different physiological phases, a study was performed on two groups with 50 pregnant primiparous and multiparous Alpine goats. BCS was performed by the method of Villaquiran et al. (2004) four times for each of the groups 10 to 15 days before, 10 to 15 days and 30 days after parturition and 10 to 15 days before drying, when in the first three terms blood was taken from v. jugularis to determine glucose levels, total protein (TP), albumin, urea, β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), calcium and phosphorus. Total amount (MY) and milk composition were recorded: protein content (MP), fat (MF), lactose (L) and dry matter (DM) during lactation, number of kids per goat (NK), body weight (BW) at birth and 30 days of age, length of service period (SP) and severity of birth giving. Significance was found between TP 15 days before and 15 and 30 days after kidding (F=2.675, p<0.05; F=4.710 and F=3.834, p<0.01, respectively), Ca 30 days after (F=2.925, p<0.05) and BHBA 15 days after (F=2.508, p<0.05). A correlation was found between BCS 30 days later and MY (r=0.302, p<0.05), 15 days after and DM (r=0.315, p<0.05), and 15 days before kidding and NK (r=0.282, p<0.05), as well as between BCS and SP (r=0.460, p<0.01) i BW at birth (r=0.307, p<0.05). The parity is correlated with MY, NK, BW and SP (r=0.774; r=0.610; r=0.588; r=0.833, p<0.01, respectively), and negatively with L (r=-0.297, p<0.05). NK is correlated with SP (r=0.630, p<0.01), MY (r=0.547, p<0.01) and MF (r=-0.294, p<0.05). SP is correlated with BW (r=0.616, p<0.01) and MY (r=0.704, p<0.01), MF with L (r=0.316, p<0.05) and DM (r=0.592, p<0.01), as well as L with DM (r=0.386, p<0.01). Blood parameter levels vary in the peripartum period, with significant differences between primiparous and multiparous goats and have an impact on production and reproduction, and therefore may be useful in preventing health, reproductive and production problems, although BCS in goats has not been found to be important as a predictor of milk production and quality

Temperature non-uniformity due to heat conduction and radiation in the pulse calorimetry technique

The paper presents an assessment of the unwanted temperature non-uniformity found in high temperature applications of the pulse calorimetry technique. Specimens in the form of a solid cylinder undergoes fast electrical heating and an intense heat radiation at high temperatures, coupled with the heat conduction the specimens’ cold ends, make them having a highly non-uniform temperature distribution, both in their radial and axial directions. By using finite element method simulations of a typical pulse calorimetry experiment, the temperature non-uniformity across the specimen diameter and along the specimen effective length has been estimated for different specimen dimensions and materials, as well as for different heating rates. The obtained results suggest that an optimization of experimental parameters, such as the specimen diameter, specimen total and effective length and heating rate, is needed for minimization of the temperature non-uniformity effect

Characterization of clays from Slatina (Ub, Serbia) for potential uses in the ceramic industry

This study focuses on the mineralogical and thermal properties of clay from "Slatina" deposit, Ub, Serbia. Sampled clays were analysed by XRD, IR spectroscopy, ICP-OES, DTA, specific surface area (SSA), cationic exchange capacity (CEC), gravimetric and grain size measurements. Results show that the studied samples have a medium content of smectite-illite minerals with smaller amount of kaolinite together with quartz, feldspars and goethite. They consist generally of fine particles with medium to high plasticity. Based on their mineral composition and physical properties (grain size, plasticity, CEC) the clays are suitable as raw material for the ceramics industry